SPPI Training Evaluated After Three Participants Die

Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi has stated that the government is evaluating the implementation of training within the Sarjana Penggerak Pembangunan Indonesia (SPPI) programme after three participants died whilst undergoing basic military training. The participants were being prepared to become managers of the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives (KDMP) and Merah Putih Fishing Villages (KNMP).

Speaking to reporters at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Friday, Prasetyo said the evaluation covers all training procedures undertaken by the prospective KDMP and KNMP managers. “First, we express our deep concern and condolences. But let us continue to improve and monitor all ongoing processes,” he said.

When asked about a possible link between the training and the three deaths, Prasetyo said this still needed to be investigated further, as each participant may have had a pre-existing health condition. He stressed that the programme attended by the prospective cooperative and fishing village managers includes not only basic military training but also competency training required to carry out their duties.

The Ministry of Defence previously confirmed on Tuesday that two SPPI participants, Anisa Muyasaroh and Yonanda Muhammad Taufiq, died during basic military training. Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait, Head of the Defence Information Bureau at the Ministry’s Secretariat General, said Anisa, who was training at the Dodikjur Rindam VI/Mulawarman in Balikpapan, died from heat stroke. Yonanda, who was training at the Puslatpur Kodiklatad in Baturaja, died after his physical condition deteriorated on Monday and he received hospital treatment; a medical examination determined the cause of death as cardiac arrest. A third participant, Novia, suffered a health disturbance during training on Monday and later died on Tuesday at Dr. Esnawan Antariksa Air Force Hospital.